Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-05

"Your wager said Dan to R., '.is hardly
fair If Theodore denies hearing or seeing,
you lose.n
sob, you can trust a Seven Day Baptist, "
called out William, which provoked a small
laugh.
sit is just the night for ghosts" said Capt.
John, looking about.
I He was right. The moon in its second
quarter furnished all the light. The sky was
fecked with small, high up, slow moving
clouds. and to a fancy quickened by the eer1e
tale just told the air seemed filled with fit
ting shadows and phantoms. THE chances
are all against me, said Theo who had Joined
in the small laugh, recurring to Dams re-
mark. "This whole old region is filed with
ghosts. can't take a step without soaring
up broods and f1ocks of old time memories,
spirits of the departed. This morning went
out into the south woods, where Decide and
used to hunt, go for chestnuts, loaf and play.
The woods are haunted could not breathe
was choked. suffocated l rushed out into
the open fields, and as l turned and looked
back could almost see human forms stand
ing under the trees, reckoning to me-"
.Oh, you'll find him ali right" said Monroe
in an assuring voice.
The dear old region had been noted
famous in sad way, for the number Of its
suicides. 1t was inevitable that the list should
be gone over with as they leisurely passed
over the high rolling ground on their way to
the haunted run a half mile away.
1t stood solitary on a gentle eastern slope,
surrounded-hidden, in fact-by trees and
small growths, which they approached on its
dark side, now black in contrast with the
gray landscape dimly lit by the slender moon.
Prepared, expectant, their voices fell low,
and ceased as they passed the east side Of the
trees and growths to the front on the south
side. The outline was awry. the large doors
ajar, warped and partly fallen, the roof rot
ten and in several places open-decay, deser-
ton and utter silence seemed to brood over
the ruins.
Slowly they advanced, and suddenly halted,
as by an electric impulse. Even R. seemed
taken by surprise, while the hair of the
strangers they felt lifting itself on their
scalps. Was it common illusion of the
senses2 Was it a real voice? While in the
gruesome presence it was real.
What did tell yous" whispered r.
"By the holies," breathed Theo, as they
listened to the once familiar accent
the old calls, and names, for minute
or two, and then r. led the way
to the black opening of the half I'M
hinged doors. They gained the foor and in
the darkness, not SO dense under the OPP ings
of the roof but that the inside, the heavy
timbers, the posts, huge beams and scaffolds,
dark and gallows, were easily distinguished,
and there on their left, squat on the squared
timber, was the dark wavering outline of the
eerie form There was no mistaking it, as
those who cast their eyes up felt assured A
half minute and one Of the party struck
match, then another, and another, till each of
the party held short lived taper in his hand,
supplied by another as its short, brief flame
vanished. Their united power was ample to
reveal the empty, silent desolation Of the
cherries interior. There was some of the
litter straw and hay, where protected from
the rain and snow, here and there, but no
sign of living thing, not even a rat. The
swallows seemed no longer to build there.
"The very spiders no longer spin webs there"
as Theo said afterward They went out.
Whether by the design of any of them,
most likely by an easily accounted for acct
dent, one or more of the lighted matches fell
upon the dry straw and hay, and almost in
simultaneously the tindery inside was in
flame. They had scarcely gained the outside
when it was discovered.
Lucky exclaimed R. al wonder we
never thought of it before" folding his arms
"Let 'er burn" said Capt John, re-echoed
by the rest They had no choice. The flash
ing, leaping, licking flames ran up the edges
of the weather boards, caught the dry edge of
the roof, and in five minutes the empty shell
was roaring flame. In thirty minutes, save
where the thick plank or heavy timbers
touched, SO as to aid each other, the active
combustion had ceased.
Moving away to avoid the heat, the boys
stood watching the rapid progress Of the
burning, and when it subsidized to red glow,
and the sinking moon and far off stars re-
sumed their wonted reign over the warm,
calm spring night, they thoughtfully moved
away, yet with a sense of relief.-Cleveland
Leader.